LAGRANGE, Ga. – As the light rains fell at Callaway Stadium ahead of Saturday's expected hurricane, the LaGrange College football team prevailed 35-0 over visiting Methodist University in USA South Athletic Conference action on Friday evening in LaGrange, Georgia.
THE BASICS
Score: Methodist 0, LaGrange 35
Records: Panthers 4-1, 2-0 USA South | Monarchs 1-4, 0-2 USA South
TOP PERFORMERS
- LaGrange senior quarterback Henry Brodnax (Newnan, Ga.) had his best game of the season, passing for 334 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers.
- LaGrange sophomore defensive lineman Zymarion Hudson (Cordele, Ga.) had himself a dominant performance accumulating four sacks on the night to set a LaGrange single-game record.
- LaGrange senior running back Michael Hays (Jacksonville, Fla.) – who a week ago reached the 1000 career rushing yards milestone list after a career performance at N.C. Wesleyan – finished with 63 yards on ten carries with four catches for 65 yards more to go along with one touchdown.
- LaGrange freshman running back Amire Miller (Richmond Hill, Ga.) rushed for a season-high 62 yards off eleven carries in the best performance of his rookie season.
DRIVE BY DRIVE
- On the opening drive of the game, the Panthers drove all the way to the Monarch 21. A dropped pass in the endzone resulted in LaGrange settling for a 38-yard field goal attempt. LC sophomore kicker James Whatley's (Birmingham, Ala.) aim was off, however, as the hosts came away empty-handed.
- On the Monarchs' first drive of the game, Methodist would go three-and-out as the Panthers' defense was smothering with sophomore linebacker Jayven Hall (Roswell, Ga.) stopping a run for no gain and junior cornerback Tavares Simmons Jr. (Perry, Ga.) breaking up a pass on third down.
- With excellent field position, Brodnax and the Panther offense immediately went to work. The senior quarterback hit junior wide receiver Aaron McLaughlin (Alpharetta, Ga.) who broke through the Monarch defense for a 47-yard touchdown. LaGrange took a 6-0 lead after a failed two-point conversion.
- On the ensuing drive, Methodist managed one first down but not much more as junior linebacker Ched Smith (Macon, Ga.) made the tackle on third down for no gain. The Monarchs punted it away once again.
- After a slow start to their next drive, the Panthers made it to the MU 33, electing to go for it on fourth down. Brodnax hit Hays on a short shovel pass in traffic and the senior running back juked a move and blew past the Methodist defense for a 32-yard touchdown reception as LaGrange went ahead 12-0 after the missed extra-point.
- The Panther defense continued to dominate the Monarch offense as Hudson hit the passer as he threw on third down leading to an incomplete pass and another punt.
- LaGrange's following drive resulted in another missed field goal attempt, giving Methodist the ball back in the final seconds of the first quarter. As the second quarter got underway, a pair of penalties went against the Panthers, giving the visitors their first light of the game, reaching the LC 25. Once again the LaGrange defense stepped up, with back-to-back tackles in the backfield by Hall and senior defensive end Anthony Lovett (Lithonia, Ga.) setting up third down, as sophomore defensive lineman Nicktavius Lawton (Cordele, Ga.) made the tackle for a short gain. Methodist was again forced to punt.
- Starting at their own seven, the Panthers slowly battled their way down the field. Things opened up when Brodnax found graduate wide receiver Ashton Bryant (Athens, Ga.) for a 42 yard reception that saw LaGrange storm into Monarch territory. Going to the ground game, LaGrange freshman running back Bakari Hamilton (Peachtree City, Ga.) used back to back carries to reach the Methodist six before a penalty stalled the drive. Freshman kicker Dylan Brooks (Melbourne, Australia) made his first field goal of his career on a 30-yard attempt, giving the Panthers a 15-0 lead with 1:51 to go in the first half.
- The Monarchs attempted to get something going before the break, but a sack by Hudson on 2nd and nine quickly stalled those efforts. The teams went into halftime with LaGrange still leading 15-0.
- The second half continued to tell the same story as the first half as the third quarter got underway, with Hudson picking up the sack on third down to force another Methodist three-and-out. With a short field in front of him, it took Brodnax just two plays to find Bryant who caught it and burned the Monarch defense for a 44-yard reception. LaGrange went up 22-0.
- Methodist went to their ground game to get something going, only for LaGrange to respond once again. Senior linebacker Dezmond Jones (Thomasville, Ga.) picked up his first sack of the season and two players later Simmons picked off Little to give the Panthers the ball back at their own 29.
- On their first play from scrimmage, Brodnax hit junior tight end Mychal Stillwell (Warner Robins, Ga.) for a 55-yard reception as LaGrange entered the MU redzone. The Panther drive would stall, however, as they would turn it over on downs.
- Hudson, last season's USA South Defensive Rookie of the Year, took over on the following drive, picking up back to back sacks. Two plays later Hudson would combine with sophomore linebacker Akeem Blackmon (Montgomery, Ala.) to make the tack on third down, forcing another punt.
- In the final minutes of the third quarter, the Panthers would ground-and-pound their way to the Monarch four-yard line, setting up a first and goal after a 13-yard run from Miller. On the first play of the fourth quarter, LaGrange freshman quarterback Jabari Zanders (McRae, Ga.) took the snap and punched it in on the option as the Panthers went up 29-0.
- A three and out on the ensuing Methodist drive was highlighted by LaGrange freshman defensive tackle Landan Johnson (Macon, Ga.) picking up his first career sack.
- Looking to run down the clock, the Panthers turned to Hays on their next drive. A 35-yard reception was followed by runs of eleven and nine yards, and a five-yard run by Miller setup a LaGrange first down at the Methodist 19. LaGrange would go on to turn it over on downs with 7:27 remaining in the game.
- A penalty on the ensuing Monarch drive gave Methodist a fresh set of downs, but this was immediately negated as LaGrange freshman cornerback Junior Holloway (Jones County, Ga.) picked up his first career interception as the Panthers took over.
- LaGrange handed off to Miller on five straight carries, driving down to the MU 15 with a first down. With 1:27 left in the game, Hamilton took the carry and punched it in for the final 35-0 lead.
UP NEXT
- LaGrange is back on the field next Saturday when they travel Brevard College for a 1:00 p.m. game in a much-anticipated contest between two of the USA South's best programs.
- Methodist plays their next game at home against Southern Virginia University, that also coming on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
For continuing coverage of LaGrange College Athletics, visit lagrangepanthers.com and follow the Panthers on Instagram ( @lagrange_panthers ), Twitter ( @lcpanthers ) and Facebook ( LaGrange Panthers ).
